By: Joshua Waldrop
The Indianapolis 500 is a Memorial Day tradition for race fans nationwide and this year the legendary IndyCar race gets a new entrant: CBD. That’s because IndyCar has seen it’s first race team sign on a CBD sponsor.
DEFY performance drink, a new CBD company was co-founded by NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, is partnering with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to have its name on James Hinchcliffe’s #5 and Marcus Ericsson’s #7 cars for the Indianapolis 500 and for the rest of the IndyCar season, according to a report by Fox Sports.
“This partnership with them right now is extremely important for us,” said Davis. “Our partnership is based on Sam Schmidt and his story. He’s what DEFY is all about: defying the odds and doing things people said you couldn’t do.”
Schmidt founded his race team in 2001, just 14 months after being diagnosed as a quadriplegic after an offseason testing accident.
Other CBD companies are also getting involved with IndyCar. Jonathan Byrd Racing has announced a sponsorship with Liquid Gold Processing and Craft 1861 sponsored RC Enerson and Carlin Racing during offseason testing this year.
Davis played seven seasons for the Denver Broncos, rushing for over 7,000 yards and, along with legendary quarterback John Elway, lead the team to two Super Bowl wins in 1998 and 1999.
“There’s benefits to it,” explained Davis. “There’s electrolytes in our drink. We have B vitamins in there. It has coconut water and it also has a performance-based CBD with zero THC. This is an iconic venue and to have a car racing here and have a chance to win with our flag flying on a car, I don’t think we could have asked for a better scenario and hopefully, we get the chance to celebrate.”
